The Lifesaving and Meritorious Action awards recognize registered youth and adults who have performed an attempt to save a life or to recognize notable acts of service that need not involve attempts of rescue or risk to self, but put into practice Scouting skills and/or ideals.

Recognition may be given to a youth member or Scouter where the evidence presented to the local council, in accordance with the applicable guidelines, shows that he or she saved or attempted to save life under circumstances that indicate heroism and risk to self. The reviewing committee will give consideration to resourcefulness and to demonstrated skill in rescue methods. In no case may recognition be given where it appears that the risk involved was merely in the performance of duty or the meeting of an obligation because of responsibility to supervise and give leadership to the persons whose lives were saved. The awards are:

Meritorious Action awards

Meritorious Action awards

National Certificate of Merit and Medal of Merit certificates (upper)Medal of Merit medal and square knot (lower)

Created:

Last updated:

Level:

All BSA-registered youth and adults

Recognition may be given to a youth member or adult leader where the evidence presented to the National Court of Honor, in accordance with prescribed regulations, shows that a significant or outstanding act of service, of an exceptional character, was performed. The action taken need not involve attempts of rescue or risk to self but must put into practice Scouting skills and/or ideals. Recognition shall not be given where it appears that the action involved was merely in the performance of duty or the meeting of an obligation. The awards are:

Lifesaving and Meritorious Action awards requirements

National awards for lifesaving, meritorious action, and heroism are made only for outstanding and unusual acts that demonstrate unusual heroism, skill, or bravery and reflect Scouting ideals, based on the following criteria:

Honor Medal With Crossed Palms. Has demonstrated unusual heroism[1] and extraordinary skill[2] or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a life at extreme risk to self.

Honor Medal. Has demonstrated unusual heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at considerable risk to self.

Heroism Award. Has demonstrated heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save life at minimal personal risk.[3]

Medal of Merit. Has performed an act of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.

National Certificate of Merit. Has performed a significant act of service that is deserving of special national recognition.[4]

Notes

The Heroism Award was retired in late 2012, but restored in February 2018.

“

After a review of the history of the lifesaving awards, including the application and actual processing of these three awards since 1977, it is the opinion of the National Court of Honor that the Heroism Award, should be retired, and the language of the Honor Medal and the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms be amended for the following reasons: (1) the current language of the three awards is confusing and unnecessarily overlapping; (2) the desire to recognize appropriate acts of heroism can be accomplished effectively using only the Honor Medal and the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms; (3) The Medal of Merit has been traditionally awarded where there is no risk to self.

Consider the list of awards above without the Heroism Award. You might notice a gap exists between the Medal of Merit and the Honor Medal. How can the BSA recognize someone who saves a life without risking his or her own? Perhaps the person performed lifesaving CPR. Maybe he or she stood on a riverbank and skillfully executed a throw bag rescue in Class III rapids.

“We found we were getting almost two out of three nominations where there was some risk to the person, but not, quote, ‘significant risk,'” the National Court of Honor member told me. “There’s a gap here, and that’s the reason there was a Heroism Award.”

The discontinuation of the Heroism Award was meant to simplify the process and eliminate “unnecessarily overlapping.” But in doing so it left that gap.

Nominating procedures

Each Council shall establish a Council Meritorious Action Awards Committee for the purpose of considering applications for award for the National Certificate of Merit or Medal of Merit for individuals registered with the Boy Scouts of America and residing within the council. Such committee shall consist of at least three and not more than five members to consider such applications and prepare recommendation for such applications by the Council Executive Board. The Council Executive Board shall consider and have authority for the final approval and/or denial of applications for National Certificate of Merit or Medal of Merit. No committee member shall consider an application for a family member of the same unit as the committee member.

If the local Council Meritorious Action Awards Committee and Council Executive Board are of the opinion that an application for the National Certificate of Merit or Medal of Merit should be upgraded to an application for the Heroism, Honor Medal, or the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms, it may refer the application, with a written letter of recommendation, to the National Court of Honor for consideration. Upon consideration, the National Court of Honor may grant the recommended upgrade of the application or return it to the Council Executive Board for consideration of a National Certificate of Merit or Medal of Merit.

Nomination forms will not be considered after a lapse of 36 months of the incident.